Gladiators’ Nitro Sprints into Strictly Come Dancing 2025
The first big name for Strictly Come Dancing 2025 has been revealed, and it’s none other than Olympic sprinter and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. Known to Gladiators fans as “Nitro,” Harry kicked off his Strictly journey in true showbiz style — by pulling off a cheeky prank live on CBBC’s Newsround . Disguised as “world-famous choreographer Nicky Trott,” he pretended to be there to discuss a fictional scientific study about the benefits of dancing every day. His cover didn’t last long, and soon the big reveal was made — he’s officially the first celebrity on this year’s glittering line-up.
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Harry’s no stranger to the spotlight. At just 17, he became the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year after making history as the first athlete to win both the 100m and 200m titles at the World Youth Championships. Over his career, he’s competed at two Olympic Games, earned three European Championship titles, two Commonwealth golds, and built a reputation as one of Britain’s fastest men. More recently, he swapped the track for the arena when he joined the BBC’s reboot of Gladiators in 2023.
Strictly fans might also recognise him from last year’s Christmas Special, where he danced alongside pro Nancy Xu. Reflecting on that festive experience, Harry joked, “It was so nice I just had to do it twice!” This time, he’s signed up for the full series and says he’s “ready to give it all I’ve got” and bring “tons of energy to light up the dance floor.” With a competitive sports background, he’s hoping his speed on the track will translate into picking up dance routines just as quickly.
The announcement marks the official start of the Strictly 2025 countdown. The series returns to BBC One and iPlayer this September and will run through to December. The next three celebrity contestants will be unveiled on The One Show tonight, with rumours swirling about who else might join the cast. This year’s professional line-up includes fan favourites like Dianne Buswell, Johannes Radebe, and Vito Coppola, alongside two new faces — US dance champion Alexis Warr and Australian-born Julian Caillon.
Strictly is coming off a memorable 2024 series, won by comedian Chris McCausland, the show’s first blind champion. But it hasn’t been without controversy, with the BBC introducing new welfare measures following reports of misconduct and even launching an investigation into alleged drug use by unnamed participants. Despite the headlines, the excitement for the ballroom’s return is as strong as ever. And with Harry Aikines-Aryeetey leading the class of 2025, it’s clear the competition is already off to a fast, high-energy start.
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